How much are Christchurch council rates for a $900,000 property?

A $900,000 property in Christchurch pays $4,553 per year in CCC rates for 2025/26 -- that is $87.57 per week. This includes fixed charges of $389.13 (UAGC $193, waste $176.13, active travel $20) plus a variable general rate of 0.4627% applied to the capital value.

What does the Christchurch rates bill for a $900k home include?

The bill includes 16 separate charges. The two main ones are the residential general rate (0.2560% of CV = $2,304/year on a $900k home) and the three-waters infrastructure rate (0.2067% of CV = $1,860/year). Fixed charges cover waste collection ($176.13), the Uniform Annual General Charge ($193), and active travel ($20).

How do Christchurch rates on a $900k property compare to Auckland?

A $900k property in Christchurch pays around $4,553/year. The equivalent Auckland Council rates on a property rated at the Auckland median (around $1.0M--$1.1M) run approximately $3,800--$4,400/year. Christchurch's variable rate of 0.4627% is broadly comparable but Auckland's UAGC and waste charges differ.

Will Christchurch rates on a $900k property go up in 2026/27?

Yes. CCC's Draft Annual Plan proposes a 7.96% overall rates increase for 2026/27, with 7.4% for residential properties. On a $900k home, this would add roughly $320--$340 per year, taking the bill to approximately $4,875/year. The 2025 revaluation CVs also take effect from 1 July 2026, which may shift the bill further depending on how your property's value moved relative to the 1.8% residential average.

Is the $900k property value the rateable value or the CV?

It refers to the capital value (CV), which is the assessed market value of your land plus buildings, set by Quotable Value (QV). CCC uses your CV to calculate the variable portion of your rates. You can look up your current CV at ccc.govt.nz/services/rates-and-valuations/rates-and-valuation-search.

Christchurch Council Rates for a $900,000 Property: The Exact 2025/26 Cost

Rates & Budget | By Harpreet Singh | 26 March 2026 | 9 min read

A $900,000 home in Christchurch pays $87.57 per week in council rates in 2025/26 -- $4,553 per year. Here's the complete charge-by-charge breakdown, how it compares to other property values, and what drives the cost.

Christchurch Annual Rates by Capital Value (2025/26, Standard Residential)

Name	Value
$500k	2703 $/year
$700k	3628 $/year
$900k	4553 $/year
$1.2m	5942 $/year
$1.5m	7330 $/year

If you own or are buying a $900,000 home in Christchurch, your 2025/26 council rates are $87.57 per week -- or $4,553 per year. That figure assumes a standard residential property with full water, sewerage, drainage, and waste minimisation connections, and one separately used or inhabited part (SUIP).

This guide breaks down every charge that makes up that number, shows how rates compare across common Christchurch property values, and answers the questions Christchurch homeowners ask most.

The Quick Answer

Detail	Amount
Property capital value	$900,000
Annual rates (2025/26)	$4,553
Weekly rates	$87.57
Rates as % of property value	0.51%
Property type assumed	Standard residential

Calculate your exact rates for any property value

Charge-by-Charge Breakdown for a $900,000 Home

Christchurch City Council applies 16 separate charges to your rates bill. For a $900,000 residential property with standard connections they work out as follows:

Charge	Type	Annual Amount
Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)	Fixed	$193.00
General Rate (residential)	Variable (0.256% of CV)	$2,303.59
Water Supply Rate	Variable (0.074% of CV)	$662.54
Land Drainage Rate	Variable (0.045% of CV)	$405.68
Sewerage Rate	Variable (0.088% of CV)	$792.50
Waste Minimisation	Fixed	$176.13
Active Travel	Fixed	$20.00
Total		$4,553.44

Note: Environment Canterbury (ECan) regional council rates add approximately $350-450 per year on top. These are billed separately by ECan, not CCC.

What Each Charge Funds

Uniform Annual General Charge ($193) -- A flat fee charged equally to every rateable property regardless of value. It contributes to core council services that benefit all properties equally.

General Rate ($2,304) -- The largest single component. This variable charge scales with your capital value and funds roads, parks, libraries, community facilities, and the council's capital investment programme.

Water Supply Rate ($663) -- Funds the network of water treatment plants, reservoirs, and pipes that supply your tap water. Christchurch draws from deep artesian wells, which are among the purest urban water sources in New Zealand.

Land Drainage Rate ($406) -- Funds the stormwater network that manages runoff from roads and properties, preventing flooding during heavy rain.

Sewerage Rate ($793) -- Funds the wastewater network and treatment plants that process sewage from Christchurch homes and businesses.

Waste Minimisation ($176) -- A fixed charge covering kerbside recycling collection, the organic/food waste service, and the general waste bin collection.

Active Travel ($20) -- A fixed charge funding cycling and walking infrastructure across the city.

Rates at Common Christchurch Property Values

How does the $900k figure compare to other property values? This table covers the full range of common Christchurch home prices, from entry-level to premium.

Capital Value	Annual Rates	Weekly Rates	Weekly per $100k of value
$500,000	$2,703	$51.97	$10.39
$600,000	$3,165	$60.87	$10.14
$700,000	$3,628	$69.77	$9.97
$800,000	$4,091	$78.67	$9.83
$900,000	$4,553	$87.57	$9.73
$1,000,000	$5,016	$96.46	$9.65
$1,200,000	$5,942	$114.26	$9.52
$1,500,000	$7,330	$140.96	$9.40

Because the fixed charges (UAGC, waste, active travel) are the same for everyone, the effective rate per dollar of value falls slightly as property values rise. A $500k property pays 0.54% of its value; a $1.5m property pays 0.49%.

Try the full interactive calculator for your property

How Capital Value Is Determined

Your rates are calculated against your property's capital value (CV), which is set by Quotable Value (QV) on behalf of Christchurch City Council. The most recent revaluation was in September 2025, with new CVs taking effect from 1 July 2026.

If your CV is not $900,000, your rates will differ. You can find your current CV on the CCC rates finder or by searching the council's online property database.

Important: The CV used for rates is not the same as the market sale price. In Christchurch, many properties sell for 10-20% above their CV. A home with a $900k CV might sell for $1.0-1.1m on the open market.

The Proposed 2026/27 Increase

Christchurch City Council has proposed a 7.96% rates increase for 2026/27 (consultation closed 27 March 2026). If adopted, a $900,000 property would pay approximately:

Annual rates: $4,916 (up from $4,553)
Weekly rates: $94.54 (up from $87.57)
Weekly increase: $6.97 per week

This increase is proposed -- not yet confirmed. The final decision will be made when the council adopts its Annual Plan 2026/27, expected in June 2026.

Read the full 2026/27 rates outlook and 10-year projections

How Christchurch Compares to Auckland for a $900k Property

Auckland rates are structured differently -- there is no direct equivalent of the UAGC, and the general rate applies to land value rather than capital value. For a property with a $900,000 capital value:

Christchurch: $87.57/week
Auckland (equivalent CV): Approximately $66-70/week (Auckland CVs are land-value based, and land typically represents 40-60% of Auckland capital values)

However, Auckland properties at $900k are mostly lower-value outer suburbs, while $900k in Christchurch is mid-to-upper market. On a like-for-like income basis, Auckland homeowners typically pay more. See our full Auckland vs Christchurch rates comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Christchurch council rates for a $900,000 property? A standard $900,000 residential property in Christchurch pays $87.57 per week ($4,553 per year) in council rates in 2025/26. This includes all 16 CCC charges: general rate, water, sewerage, land drainage, waste minimisation, active travel, and the UAGC.

Are Christchurch rates high compared to other NZ cities? Christchurch sits in the middle of the pack among major NZ cities. Wellington ($106/week for a comparable property) and Tauranga ($89/week) are higher, while Hamilton ($71/week) and Dunedin ($78/week) are lower. Auckland rates appear lower in dollar terms but Auckland property values are much higher, so the rates-to-value ratio is lower in Auckland. See the full NZ cities comparison.

Do Christchurch rates include water charges? Yes. Unlike some councils where water is billed separately, Christchurch City Council includes water supply, sewerage, and land drainage rates on your standard rates notice. For a $900k property, water-related charges total approximately $1,861 per year ($35.78/week).

What is the UAGC on my Christchurch rates bill? The Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) is a fixed $193 charge applied equally to every Christchurch property, regardless of size or value. It funds services that benefit all properties equally. Read the full Christchurch rates finder guide for an explanation of every line on your bill.

How will the 2025 revaluation affect my rates? If your property's CV increased by more than the city average in the 2025 revaluation, your rates will rise by more than the average rate increase. If your CV fell or rose by less than average, your rates may increase less. The 2025 revaluation guide explains how the revaluation affects individual bills.

Can I estimate rates for a property I'm thinking of buying? Yes -- enter the property's capital value into the Christchurch rates calculator. Use the CV from the listing (usually shown as "CV" or "RV" on Trade Me or real estate sites), not the asking price.

Explore Further

Listen: Your Rates, Plain & Simple -- Want the full story in 15 minutes? In Episode 1 of our podcast, Sam and Kate walk through a real Christchurch rates bill line by line.